Dear Students, Faculty and Staff

A monthly update from Thomas A. Cavalieri, DO, FACOI, FACP, AGSF, Dean
Volume 7, Number 6 June 2012
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
As you are aware, creating a unified system of higher education
in the state, and particularly strengthening the institutions of higher
education in Southern New Jersey, has been under discussion for
over a decade. Bills to achieve this goal are expected to pass both
houses of the New Jersey State Legislature by the end of June. The
bill will then be forwarded to Governor Chris Christie, who had
requested that the Legislature take action by July 1st. At the various
legislative hearings held this month, many, including UMDNJ
Interim President Denise V. Rodgers, MD, and a number of UMDNJSchool of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM) students, presented
testimony in favor of SOM moving to Rutgers with the other schools
of UMDNJ (see: http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/news-andpublications/blogs/daily-report-blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=27
84). However, the proposal passed by the State Legislature on June
28 moves sponsorship of SOM to Rowan University in July 2013.
Throughout the recent legislative process and during the
planning we anticipate will occur in the year ahead, our highest
priority is to ensure that SOM continues to offer outstanding
educational opportunities to our medical students, interns and
residents; high-quality care to our patients; cutting-edge research;
and an environment in which faculty and staff can pursue rewarding
and productive careers. To do so, we must maintain our osteopathic
identity and accreditation, and offer a complete mission of
education, research and health care delivery. This goal has been
embraced by many partners, supporters and friends, including the
American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the New Jersey
Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (NJAOPS), the
SOM Alumni Association, the SOM Faculty Senate, and others, and
is reflected in the legislative language, which seeks to preserve
SOM’s many strengths.
Change always poses opportunities as well as challenges. We
have been operating with a degree of uncertainty for several years
now. With the reorganization process advancing, we look forward to
a time of greater stability. The new structure presents the potential
to make SOM an even more vital academic resource to the region.
We remain unwavering in our commitment to our mission and to
you, our trainees, staff and faculty.
For an update and more information about the restructuring of
medical and health sciences education in New Jersey, please plan
to attend the upcoming Dean’s Forums on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at
10:00 am or 3:00 pm in the Top Docs’ Café, Academic Center.
Please consult with your department chair or supervisor. RSVP by
Monday, July 9, 2012 at 566.6207 or email [email protected].
GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME) GRADUATIONS
Each June, we celebrate the
accomplishments of our Graduate Medical
Education (GME) trainees in pursuit of their
career goals.
Each step of the GME process—internship,
residency and fellowship—represents a
higher level of the skills and knowledge that
will contribute to the success of these
doctors-in-training. For over 30 years, the
Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution
Class of 2012 Intern Graduates
(OPTI) program has provided trainees with a
variety of collaborative clinical experiences at Kennedy University Hospital (KUH), Lourdes Health System (LHS), South Jersey
Healthcare, Cooper University Hospital, Christ Hospital, Meridian Health System, Atlantic Health and dozens of affiliated training sites
across New Jersey and the Delaware Valley region.
INTERN GRADUATION
KUH and LHS co-hosted the annual Internship Graduation
Ceremony at Shannon’s Catering in Atco, NJ on June 8th.
During the ceremony, Fredrick Ashong, MD, FAAP, MPH,
director of Medical Education, LHS, honored Dr. Whitney Huston
with the UMDNJ-SOM OPTI “Humanism Award,” which is
presented to the intern who best displays his or her ability to
foster relationships with patients, their families and other
caregivers while demonstrating compassion, altruism, respect,
empathy and service.
Lora Donia, manager for the OPTI, presented Kimberly Deery,
DO with the “Intern Service Award.” Russell Griesback, DO,
associate professor, Medicine and acting assistant dean,
Education, presented the “Intern Teaching Award” to Claudio
Fernandez, DO. The “Graduate Medical Education Service Award”
was given to Todd Ruderman, DO by Terry Brown, director of GME.
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This achievement is presented to the intern who helps the
UMDNJ-SOM GME Department with service to their fellow interns
and to the hospitals.
Christopher Barone, DO, director of Medical Education, KUH,
presented the “Intern of the Year Award” to Jay Kirkham, DO. The
internship class votes on the awardee, and considers medical
knowledge, patient care and teamwork.
The interns were not the only group to receive awards that
evening. The educational expertise of the attending physicians
were acknowledged during the presentation of the “Teaching
Attending of the Year Awards” to Raksha Kothari, MD, assistant
professor of Medicine at SOM, KUH Cherry Hill; Stephen Daly, DO,
KUH Stratford; Joshua Crasner, DO, KUH Washington Township;
and Bruce McGann, MD, LHS.
1. L-r: Claudio
Fernandez, DO and
Russell Griesback,
DO, associate
professor, Medicine
and acting assistant
dean, Education.
2. L-r: Frederick
Ashong, MD, FAAP,
MPH, director of
Medical Education,
Lourdes Health
System and Whitney
Huston, DO.
3. L-r: Raksha
Kothari, MD,
assistant professor, Medicine and Niels Snyder, DO, PGY I, Emergency Medicine
4. Jay Kirkham, DO and Christopher Barone, DO, vice president, Medical Affairs
and Graduate Medical Education, KUH 5. L-r: Steven J. Daly, DO, Cardiologist and
Jay Kirkham, DO, PGY 1, Internal Medicine
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6. L-r: Bruce McGann, MD and Kay Yoon-Flannery, DO. 7. L-r: Terry Brown, director, Graduate Medical Education and Todd Ruderman, DO.
8. L-r: Jay Kirkham, DO, PGY 1, Internal Medicine and Joshua M. Crasner, DO, Cardiologist. 9. L-r: Lora Donia, manager, OPTI and Kimberly
Deery, DO.
RESIDENCY PROGRAM GRADUATIONS
More than 50 graduating residents and fellows were recognized for having satisfactorily completed their post-graduate training at
departmental graduation programs.
FAMILY MEDICINE
The Department of Family Medicine held their recognition
dinner on June 6th at Vitarelli’s at the Pennsauken Country Club in
Pennsauken, NJ. The ten graduate residents presented the
following awards to faculty:
“Kennedy Physician of the Year” to Terrie Ginsberg, DO,
associate professor, Medicine and geriatrician, New Jersey
Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA)
“Lourdes Camden Physician of the Year” to Jason Smith, DO
“Lourdes Burlington Physician of the Year” to Sean McMillan,
DO, clinical assistant professor, Surgery
“Master Educator of the Year” to Greg Barone, DO
“Family Medicine Educator of the Year” to Adarsh Gupta, DO,
MS, FACOFP, associate professor, Family Medicine and director of
the Center for Medical Weight Loss and Metabolic Control
The annual “Alan Z. Gartzman, DO Memorial Fund Award” from
the Gartzman Foundation was presented to Hortense Russell, DO.
2012 Graduating class, back row, l-r: George C. Scott, DO, DPM, FACOFP, assistant professor, Family Medicine, program director, Family
Medicine Residency Program; Shao-Chun Yeh, DO; Jonathan Torres, DO, chief resident; Scott Leggoe, DO and Edward Shadiack, DO. Front row
l-r: Daniel Giuglianotti, DO; Amy Maley, DO; Crystal Rivell, DO; Meredith Kenney, DO; Hortense Russell, DO; Gregory Sayegh, DO and Alison
Mancuso, DO, assistant professor, Family Medicine and assistant program director, Family Medicine Residency Program.
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1. Family Medicine Educator of the Year - Adarsh K. Gupta, DO, MS, FACOFP associate professor, Board Certified in Family Medicine and Bariatric
Medicine at the Center for Medical Weight Loss and Metabolic Control. 2. Kennedy Physician of the year - Terrie Ginsberg, DO, associate professor,
Medicine, New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA) 3. Lourdes Camden Physician of the Year - Jason Smith, DO 4. Lourdes Burlington
Physician of the Year - Sean McMillan, DO 5. Master Educator - Greg Barone, DO
Alan Z. Gartzman Award was presented to Hortense Russell, DO. L-r: Caryl Heaton, DO, associate professor and chair, Family Medicine;
George C. Scott, DO, DPM, FACOFP, assistant professor, Family Medicine, program director, Family Medicine Residency Program; Alan
Gartzman, DO; Crystal Rivell, DO; Hortense Russell, DO; Meredith Kenney; Steven Gartzman and Carol Gooberman
CHRIST HOSPITAL PROGRAM
The Department of Family Medicine’s Graduation Ceremony at Christ Hospital was held on June 7th at Liberty House Restaurant in
Jersey City. The program graduated two residents and seven interns, and is overseen by Antonios Tsompanidis, DO, ’94, assistant
professor and program director, Family Medicine. The graduates are:
• PGY-3 Family Medicine Graduates: Jim Nguyen, DO, chief resident; and Judean Johnson, DO
• PGY-1 Traditional Rotating Internship Graduates: Jason Arora, DO; G. Matthew Garcia, DO; Dellene Kornitsky, DO; Vasilios Kountis, DO;
Jade Smith, DO; Lauren Terranova, DO; Jennifer To, DO
MEDICINE
The Department of Medicine held its ceremony on June 13th at
Tavistock Country Club. The program graduated a total of 17
residents: 14 IM residents and three IM/EM residents; and a total
of 12 Fellows from the Internal Medicine specialties.
H. Timothy Dombrowski, DO, MPH, FACOI, chair, Department of
Medicine, presided over the event. Ricardo Perez, DO, JD,
assistant professor, Medicine was the program director of the
Internal Medicine Residency program. “Resident of the Year” was awarded to Mark Condoluci, DO; the
“Intern of the Year” award went to Russell Mordecai, DO; a
“Special Recognition” award was given to Alan Ghaly, DO; and the
“Teacher of the Year” award was presented to Todd Levin, DO. 1.
2.
1. L-r: Ashley Albers PGY III; Wasiu Adisa,
PGY V; Michelle Berminghan, PGY III;
Michael Bianco, PGY III; Costandinos
Tsagaratos, PGY V; Shelley Bianco, PGY III;
Ann Fernandez, PGY III; Sona Kothari, PGY
III; Vincent Peterson, PGY III; Amanda
Valvano, PGY III; Alan Ghaly, PGY III; Amee
Garg, PGY III; Wei Chen, PGY III; Brian
Weingart, PGY III; Amir Gerges, PGY III and
Andrew Caravello, PGY V. 2. Teacher of the
Year Award L-r: Ricardo Perez, DO, JD,
assistant professor, Medicine and program
director, Internal Medicine Residency
Program; Ann Fernandez, DO; Todd Levin,
DO, award recipient, volunteer faculty,
Garden State Infectious Disease Associates;
Wasiu Adisa, DO; Vincent Peterson, DO and
Michael Bianco, DO.
EMERGENCY MEDICINE (EM) AND INTERNAL MEDICINE/EMERGENCY MEDICINE (IM/EM)
The Department of Emergency Medicine held its ceremony on
June 7th at Trump National Golf Club – Philadelphia in Pine Hill,
NJ. The program graduated a total of ten residents: seven EM
residents and three IM/EM residents.
Francis L. Levin, DO, FACEP, chair, Department of Emergency
Medicine, presided over the event. Anthony J. DiPasquale, DO,
FACOEP, clinical assistant professor, Emergency Medicine and
Victor J. Scali, DO, FACOEP-D, clinical assistant professor,
Emergency Medicine, are co-directors of the EM Residency
program. Victor J. Scali, DO, FACOEP-D and Thomas Morley, DO,
FACCP are co-directors of the IM/EM Residency program.
The “Foxhole Award to the Outstanding Resident” was
presented to Andrew Caravello, DO and the “Faculty Excellence
Award” was presented to James A. Espinosa, MD. “Residence
Excellence Awards” were presented to four graduates: Wasiu F.
Adisa, DO; Matthew C. Cauchon, DO; Robin J. Lahr, DO; and Jason
Morris, DO.
Front row, l-r: David Grosiak, DO; Robin Lahr, DO; Andrew Caravello, DO; Victor Scali, DO, FACOEP-D, clinical assistant professor,
Emergency Medicine, co-director, Residency Program. Back row, l-r: Anthony DiPasquale, DO, FACOEP, clinical assistant professor,
Emergency Medicine, co-director, Residency Program; Brian Morgan, DO; Jason Morris, DO; Wasiu Adisa, DO; Olubusola Oyesanmi, DO;
Matthew Cauchon, DO; Costandinos Tsagaratos, DO and Dilip Yarabothu, DO.
OB/GYN
The Department of OB/GYN held its graduation
dinner on June 20th at Filomena’s Lakeview
Restaurant in Deptford, NJ. Keith Williams, MBBS,
DABOG, MBA, professor and chair, OB/GYN
presented Paul M. Krueger, DO, FACOOG with the
“Chairman’s Award” for his 22 years of service to
the OB/GYN Residency Program.
Michelle Tartaglia, DO, FACOOG, assistant
professor, OB/GYN, residency program director,
presented certificates to Gyasi Askia, DO;
Melissa Decker, DO; and Jennifer Gaide, DO.
L-r: Jennifer Gaide, DO; Gyasi Askia, DO and Melissa Decker, DO.
SURGERY
The Department of Surgery held its graduation dinner on June 14th at
The Mansion on Main Street in Voorhees, NJ. The following awards were
presented: “Academic Achievement Award” to Anna Goldenberg-Sandau,
DO; “Surgery Student Award” to Maximillian Bekhit, DO; The Frederick G.
Meoli Scientific Paper Award” to Catie Campo, DO; and the “Clinical and
Leadership Award” to Brandt Jones, DO.
Plaques were presented to the department’s chief residents: Alia
Abdulla, DO; Yury Bak, DO; Christopher Falcon, DO; and Wanda Good, DO.
Sohail Mamdani, DO received a plaque for a bariatric fellowship.
The Orthopedic Surgery Residency program celebrated four graduates
on June 12th at Filomena Cucina Italiana in Clementon, NJ. John D.
Burrow, DO; Emily Keener, DO; William Neway, DO; and Julianne Sees, DO
graduated from the program.
L-r: Alia Abdulla, DO; Yury Bak, DO; Wanda Good, DO and
Christopher Falcon, DO
PSYCHIATRY
The Department of Psychiatry Residency program dinner was on June 1st at Maggiano’s in Cherry Hill, NJ. The three program graduates
were: Dara Abraham, DO; Justin Faden, DO; and Jeffrey Bolger, DO.
At the dinner, it was announced that Justin Faden, DO, will be staying with the department as an assistant professor and will work with
Camden County Health Services Center. Carolyn Bernacki, DO will continue her education as a Child/Adolescent Fellow.
GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
Christian White, DO graduated from the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship program on June 7th at a reception held at Tavistock Country
Club in Haddonfield, NJ. He was awarded the “2012 Excellence in Teaching in Geriatrics and Gerontology” award.
STRATFORD CAMPUS TO BECOME TOBACCO-FREE ON JULY 1ST
Effective July 1st, the Stratford campus will be tobacco-free.
We are the second UMDNJ location to go tobacco-free and the
first full campus of UMDNJ to do so.
“Tobacco use remains the single most preventable cause of
disease and premature death among Americans,” reminds
Katharine Garnier, MD, assistant professor, Family Medicine and
director, Student and Employee Health. “The personal cost of
tobacco use goes beyond the money you spend for your
preferred brand of cigarettes. When you smoke, you are literally
paying with your life.”
According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco smoke
contains more than 7,000 compounds, of which 250 are known
to be harmful to humans and more than 60 have been shown to
cause cancer.
UMDNJ’s commitment to go tobacco-free in Stratford
underscores not only its commitment to the health of its patients
but also the well being of everyone on its campus.
That is because tobacco use doesn’t just harm those who
smoke. Everyone who comes in contact with tobacco smoke is at
risk for potential harm and children are particularly vulnerable.
The American Cancer Society estimates that as many as one
million children suffer worsening asthma-related symptoms and
approximately 150,000 children under the age of 18 months
NINTH ANNUAL SENIOR HEALTH & FITNESS DAY
More than 300 seniors visited the Stratford campus on
June 13th to get an “A+ in Aging” at the Ninth Annual Senior
Health and Fitness Day. The event provided area seniors with
a chance to mingle with representatives from a wide range of
providers of specialized services for people over the age of 55.
Anita Chopra, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, director, New Jersey
Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA) and I welcomed a
packed auditorium of seniors who had gathered to hear the
Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera (center) from the Fourth
Legislative District presents Thomas A. Cavalieri, DO, Dean,
UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ-SOM) and Anita
Chopra, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, professor, Medicine and director,
New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA) with a
proclamation celebrating NJISA’s 25th anniversary.
develop respiratory tract infections due to their exposure to
second-hand smoke.
To help you kick the habit, the Stratford campus is offering a
new six-week tobacco cessation program, “Quit Today, We Can
Help You!” which is available to all faculty, employees and
students. This FREE program will be offered on six Tuesdays –
July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7 and August 14 from
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in Suite 1200 in the UDP.
Through the program you will receive:
• A tailored program to fit YOU
• Support from certified smoking cessation counselors
• Optional medical consult for prescriptions
and medications
The UMDNJ Wellness Center will offer a concurrent,
complementary six-week membership to “Quit Today”
registrants. To register or for more information, contact UMDNJ
Employee Student Health Service at 856.566.6825, fax
856.566.6188 or email [email protected].
Non-smokers on campus will benefit from cleaner air and the
strong statement, we, as a health care institution, will make with
our tobacco-free policy, approved recently by all six Deans of the
schools in Stratford.
lecture by Terrie Ginsberg, DO, associate professor, Medicine
and geriatrician, NJISA that kicked off Senior Health and
Fitness Day. Dr. Ginsberg delivered a lively, thought-provoking
talk on “100 Candles: Wellness beyond Retirement,” which
featured healthy aging tips and insight on why living until 100 is
no longer an unrealistic goal for today’s seniors.
Exiting from the lecture, the attendees were greeted by 50
displays from businesses and health care providers set up
throughout the atrium and multi-purpose room of the UMDNJ
Academic Center. Staff members from the NJISA and The
University Doctors joined several vendors who offered a wide
range of health information and an array of free screenings for
macular degeneration, balance, blood pressure, body fat, bone
density, blood oxygen and glucose levels.
Special guests at the program included Stratford Mayor John
Gentless and representatives from Senator Robert Menendez’s
office. Fourth Legislative District Assembly representatives
Paul Moriarity and Gabriela Mosquera also attended.
Assemblyman Moriarity introduced his 90-years-young mother
and delivered congratulatory remarks to the attendees.
Assemblywoman Mosquera presented Dr. Cavalieri and Dr.
Chopra with a proclamation acknowledging the 25th anniversary
of the establishment of NJISA.
One of the day’s highlights occurred with the celebration of
the successful aging efforts of the three oldest men and women
who attended. Each was awarded with a framed certificate
inducting them into the “A+ in Aging – Class of 2012” at NJISA.
Senior Health and Fitness Day concluded with demonstrations
of brain and memory “exercises” led by Tanya McKeown, a
community wellness program manager at Kennedy Health
System, and “strengthen and stretch chair exercise” by Tina
Ermert Bortner, community health educator at the Lourdes
Wellness Center.
STUDENTS AND GRADUATES TAKE SOM’S
MISSION ON THE ROAD
Current and former SOM students recently
spent 10 days in Kingston, Jamaica, where they
treated approximately 400 adults and 150
children from shelters built by the Missionaries
of the Poor. Their efforts exemplify SOM’s
mission and values.
Recipients of the “A+ in Aging – Life in Your Years” awards are: l-r,
standing: Anthony Kolody, 93 years young; Norman Oken, 92 years
young and Bud Fogel, 89 years young. L-r, sitting: Ethel David, 96 years
young; Margaret Murray, 89 years young; Janice Young, 88 years young.
The “Life in Your Years” awards were presented to the three most
senior male and three most senior female attendees at the 9th Annual
Senior Health and Fitness Day.
UPCOMING EVENTS
DEAN’S FORUMS – JULY 10, 2012
For an update and more information about the restructuring of
medical and health sciences education in New Jersey, please
plan to attend on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 10 am or 3 pm in the
Top Docs’ Café, Academic Center. Please consult with your
department chair or supervisor. RSVP by Monday, July 9, 2012 at
566.6207 or email [email protected].
WALK THE WALK WITH DEAN CAVALIERI –
JULY 23, 2012
As part of UMDNJ’s focus on health and wellness, outdoor
walking paths have been created on each campus. Join Dean
Cavalieri on Monday, July 23, 2012 at 12 noon as he takes a walk
on the Stratford Campus path. Walk will be held rain or shine.
Water will be available for all walkers and a discounted healthy
lunch menu will be offered in Top Docs’ Café following the walk.
Stay tuned for more information about the walk as we get closer
to the event.
15TH ANNUAL UMDNJ-SOM GOLF CLASSIC –
SEPTEMBER 30, 2012
Join alumni, faculty, students and staff at the 15th Annual
UMDNJ-SOM Golf Classic, Sunday, September 30th at 8:45 am
(shotgun start). The tournament will be held at Harbor Pines Golf
Course in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, featuring large fairways
great for golfers of all skill levels, a driving range and new
clubhouse. The Golf Classic includes 18 holes of golf, continental
breakfast, lunch, gifts and prizes. Proceeds from the event
support student scholarships at UMDNJ-SOM. For more
information, call the Office of Alumni & Student Affairs at 856566-6740.
My best regards,
Thomas A. Cavalieri, DO, FACOI, FACP, AGSF
Dean